What does it mean?

The Circle:

Represents the circle of life, without beginning or end, and the journey that all students in the martial arts begin but never end - the quest for perfection. It also represents the circular nature and flow of Kenpo karate; the lines bisect the circle at the 45 and 90 degree angles, and represent that angles at which we attack and defend.

The Hawk:

Ancient Egyptians considered the hawk to be a symbol of the heavens and of the soul. In Heraldry, the hawk is a symbol for someone who can be trusted to complete a task. In Christianity, the hawk is a symbol of death, and of one who preys on the weak. This symbolism, good and bad, is itself a symbolism of the battle between good and evil within us all. The wings of the hawk represent the close-in power of kenpo elbow and knee strikes; the claws are open and empty, symbolic of the empty hands of Karate. The eyes of the hawk are open and focused, giving full attention to the task at hand, and the wings are spread wide, offering protection to those who would seek to defend themselves and their loved ones through training in Kenpo Karate. The wings of the hawk also form the top of a triangle with the sword and the staff; the triangle representing height, width, and depth, all of which must be controlled and neutralized in an opponent for maximum effect.

The sword:

The sword is the Roman Gladius, a western sword, representing the western aspects of Kenpo Karate. As the gladius was the weapon used to bring control to the western world, so the martial arts are a tool to be used to develop control over ones mind and body. The sword is bare, representing the weapons held ready and skills held sharp.

The Staff:

The staff is a fighting staff or Kali Stick. Both are natural weapons, and represent the natural weapons (feet, hands, knees, elbows, etc) that we develop through training in the martial arts. The sword and the staff also represent the practical nature of kenpo; the willingness to grow, to adapt, to use the tools at hand to achieve the goal.

The Colors:

The background is white, representing the point where we being our training; The body of the crest is black, representing proficiency and goals reached; the letters are red, indicating that the Black Belt is only the first stepping stone towards Professorship; the patch is trimmed with Gold, indicating our desire to achieve excellence, and the 'K' in the patch is black, indicating that Kenpo is a fighting art.

The Shape:

The top, sides, and bottom of the patch form a shield, representing our ability to use our skills as a shield against evil. The six corners of the shield represent hands, feet, knees, and elbows, and are sharp and pointed indicating that those weapons are now dangerous. The base forms the shape of an ax, representing the deadly aspects of the art. The 'K' in the middle of the Ax stands for Kenpo Karate.